Reinforced urinary catheter

Abstract

A urinary catheter assembly to be arranged in a curled disposition is disclosed. The assembly comprises a urinary catheter having a tubular shaft extending between a insertable end and a discharge end, wherein said tubular shaft is provided with an elastic reinforcement element having an extension in the axial direction of the tubular shaft; and a receptacle arranged to accommodate and maintain the urinary catheter in a curled storage state, in which the tubular shaft of the catheter is arranged in at least one coil. The reinforcement element is arranged to provide a force to uncurl the catheter when removed from said receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A urinary catheter assembly comprising:
 a urinary catheter having a tubular shaft extending between a insertable end and a discharge end, wherein said tubular shaft is provided with an elastic reinforcement element having an extension in the axial direction of the tubular shaft; and   a receptacle arranged to accommodate and maintain the urinary catheter in a curled storage state, in which the tubular shaft of the catheter is arranged in at least one coil;   wherein said reinforcement element is arranged to provide a force to uncurl the catheter when removed from said receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is arranged to accommodate and maintain the urinary catheter in a curled storage state, in which the tubular shaft of the catheter is arranged in at least two coils, and preferably at least three coils. 
     
     
         3 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element extends essentially only in an axial direction of the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element extends both in an axial and circumferential direction of the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element is helically shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged embedded in the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged inside a lumen of the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged on an outer wall of the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element forms a non-separable, monolithic unit with the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is removably connected to the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular shaft and the reinforcement element are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         12 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular shaft is formed of a plastic material, and wherein the reinforcement element is formed of a metal and/or a relatively rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular shaft is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, said hydrophilic polymer exhibiting a low friction when wetted. 
     
     
         14 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly further comprises a wetting fluid for activation of said hydrophilic surface coating, said wetting fluid being accommodated by said package. 
     
     
         15 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle forms a circular compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an open-ended compartment and a removable lid. 
     
     
         17 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is formed of two sheets of foil material being joined along the edges of the foils, thereby forming a closed compartment therein for housing said catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged embedded in the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular shaft and the reinforcement element are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         20 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the tubular shaft is formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         21 . The urinary catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is formed of at least one of steel, polyester or nylon.